Locking device for axle-nuts.



T. W. GAUD LOOKING DEVI POR A NUTS. APPLIGATION D Emma. i909.

Patented 0t.26,1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS W. CAUDLE, OF DAYTON, TENNESSEE.

` LOCKING DEVICE FOR AXLE-NUTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 26, 1.909.

Application filed. February 23, 1909. Serial No. 479,438.

specifically, the provisions of a skein of novel and improved form, of a rod designed to be assembled with the said skein for locking a nut thereto, and of novel means for holding the rod in position upon the skein; other and further objects being made manifest hereinafter as the description of the invention progresses.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in that portion of this instrument wherein patentable novelty is claimed for certain distinctive and peculiar features of the device, it being understood, that, within the scope of what hereinafter is thus claimed, divers changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the' invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to denote corresponding `parts throughout the several g'ures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows my invention in vertical longitudinal section; and Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line a Z) of Eig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the terminal of the aXle of a vehicle upon which is mounted a skein 2. The outer end of the skein 2 is closed and is diminished in diameter and threaded as denoted by the numeral 3, this diminution in the diameter of the skein at its outer terminal forming a shoulder 5 against which may abut, a nut 4, threaded as` shown to engage the threaded outer end of the skein.

The skein is provided intermediate its ends with the usual shoulder 6 to receive the wheel of the vehicle and at its inner end it is thickened to form a base 7. The base 7 is provided upon its upper surface with a longitudinally disposed upstanding rib 8 and through this rib 8 and through the body of the skein, passes an aperture 9 communi- 'eating with the interior of the skein. The

inner surface of the skein at its upper portion is provided with a longitudinally disposed channel 10. This channel 10 crosses the aperture 9 and terminates between said aperture and the inner end of the skein, whereby is formed a shoulder 11. At its outer end the channel 1() is lreduced in diameter as denoted by the numeral 12, this reduced portion extending outward throughV the shoulder 5 of the skein. I further provide a rod 13 conforming in cross section to the cross section of the channel 10 and arranged to be slidably mounted therein. This rod 13 is provided with a diminished end 14 adapted to enter the opening 12 in the outer end of the skein. The inner face of the nut 4 has an aperture 15 which the diminished end 14 of the rod is adapted to kenter and the dimensions of this aperture 15 in the nut are such that when the end 14 of the rod is mounted therein, rotation of the nut 4 upon the threaded portion 3 of the skein will be impossible. Rising from the inner end of the rod 13 is a shank 16 which, as shown, may be threaded. This shank 16 passes upward through the aperture 9 in which it is designed to slide, and carries upon its upper terminal a wing nut 18 or like device threaded to engage the shank. Interposed between the wing nut 18 and the skein is a plate 17 having an aperture to receive the threaded shank 16. As shown in Fig. 2, the edges of this plate 17 are downbent to include between them the rib 8 which upstands from the skein adjacent the inner end thereof.

In practical operation, supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, the wing nut 18 is rotated, leaving the rod 13 free to slide in the channel 10. The wing nut 18 is then drawn inward carrying with it the rod 13 and retracting the diminished end 14 of the rod from the aperture'l in the nut 4, whereupon the said nut may be turned and removed from its place.

When it is desired to replace the nut 4, the end 14 of the rod being retracted within the skein, the nut yis rotated into position. By means of the wing nut 1S the rod 13 is forced outward in the channel 10 to cause the end 14 of the rod to enter the aperture 15 in the nut it being understood that this aperture 15 in the nut is so placed relative to the opening 12 in the skein that the Vsaid openings l15 and 12 may be Abrought into alinement by the rotation of the nut. When the nut has thus been locked in position the wing nut 13 may be rotated drawing the rod 13 closely against the inner face of the skein. By the foregoing operation the rod is securely held in engagement with the nut and the nut cannot be removed from its position upon the end of the device until the wing nut 18 has been loosened. The plate 17k which is carried by the shank 16 serves to exclude from the aperture 9, sand and dirt which otherwise might impede the operation of the device, and by downturning the edges ot the plate to engage the rib S, the exclusion ot dirt from the orilice is made more perfect. The shoulder 11 is so positioned that it will limit the inward movement of the rod 13 and prevent the threads upon the shank 16 from being damaged by contact with the walls of the aperture 9 as the rod is slid inward.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is.

l. In a device of the'class described, a

skein having an opening in its top adjacent its inner end; a nut to engage the outer end of the skein; a rod slidably mounted in the skein andarranged to engage the nut against rotation, the rod being provided at its. inner' end with a shank to slide in the` opening in the top of the skein; and means carried by the upper terminal of the shank for clamping the rod to the skein.

2. In a device of the class described, a skein having an opening in its top adjacent its inner end, a nut to engage the outer end of the skein; a rod slidably mounted in the skein and arranged to engage the nut against rot-ation, the rod being provided at its inner end with a shank to slide in the opening in the top of the skein; a plate carried by the shank of the rod and arranged to cover the opening in the top of the skein; and means carried by the upper terminal of the shank for clamping the rod to the skein. l 3. In a device of the class described, a

skein having an opening in its top adjacent its inner end, and provided on its inner face with a longitudinally disposed channel terminating between the opening and the inner end of the skein to form a shoulder in the skein; a nut toengage the outer end of the skeinya rod slidablyf mounted in the channel and arranged to engage the nut against rotation,the rod being provided at its innei' end with a threaded shank'to slide in the opening in the top of the skein; and a nut to engage the upper end of the shank; the shoulder being positioned to limit the inward movement of the rod and to hold the Athreaded shank from contact with the skein.

4. In a device of the class described, a skein having an opening in its top adjacent its inner end and'provided with an opening in its outer endleccentric with respect to the axis of the skein; a nut to engage the outer end of the lskein and provided upon lits inner face with an aperture arranged :to be brought into alinement with the opening in vthe outer end of the skein; and a rod slidably mounted within the skein and havingn its outer terminal arranged to enter in the opening in the outer end of the skein and to enter the aperture in the nut; the rod being provided with a shank to extend through the opening in the top of -the skein and to -V slide therein.

5. In a device of the class described, a skein having an opening in its top adjacent its inner end and provided with an opening in its outer end eccentric with respect to theeA axis of theskein; a nut to engage theouter end of the skein and provided upon its inner face with an aperture arranged to be brought into lalinement with the opening in the outer end of the skein; .a rod slidablyf` mounted within they skein and having its `100 outerend arranged to enter theopening in the outer end of the skein and to enter the aperture in the nut, the rod being provided with a shank to extend through the opening inA the top of the skein `and to slide therein; a 105 plate carried by the shank and vpositioned to cover the opening in the top of the skein; and means carried by the upper terminal of the skein for clamping the rod to .the skein.

6. In a device of the class described, a skein having a longitudinally disposed rib at its top adjacent its inner end, and provided withan opening through said rib to communicate with the interior of the skein, and provided with an opening at its outer end eccentric with respect to the axis of the skein; a nut. to-engage the outer end of the skein and provided upon `its inner face with an aperture arranged to be brought into I alinement with the opening in the outer end of the skein; a rod slidably mounted within the skein and having its outer terminal arranged to enter the opening in the outer end of the skein and to enter the aperture in the.. Y nut; the rod being provided with a shank to extend through the opening inthe top of the skein and to slide therein; a plate car- In testimony that I claim the foregoing rie-d by the shank and positioned to cove-r as my own7 I have hereto afxed my signathe opening in the top of the skein, the edges ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

of the plate being downbent to engage the THOMAS W. CAUDLE. g rib; and means carried by the upper teI'- Witnesses:

minal of the shank for clamping the rod to A. I. HAGGARD,

the skein. C. F.v WHITENER. 

